Santi Cazorla has suffered yet another setback with his Achilles problem that will now rule him out until April, meaning he could well have played his last game for Arsenal.

The Spanish magician’s contract runs out next summer and his current injury, which has been exacerbated by skin graft problems that have required a series of operations, looks like it will keep him sidelined for most of his final year.

He was initially expected back at the start of the season. This was then extended to December. Now, the Daily Express are reporting, in an exclusive, that it will be April at the earliest before he returns – as long as he doesn’t suffer any further setbacks.

Recently, Santi posted pictures of himself at the gym as he starts the long road back to playing c competitive football again, but he was still using a crutch to get around. We said at the time it didn’t look promising and it seems as though we might have been right.

Cazorla has not played for Arsenal since October 2016 when he limped off against Ludogorets. He was expected to be out for three weeks.

Cazorla said in May: “[Arsenal] were very good to me, they renewed me before my operation, the manager talked to me and gave me peace of mind.

“It’s been a difficult season, since I have not played since November. I’ve been through surgery eight times. 

“I had the last one yesterday, and hopefully everything will go well.

“Since November I have had complications. There was bacteria in the operating room and I suffered an infection in a bone. The scar did not close and I had a skin graft.”